The Hunt for the Ghostkeeper

Chapter 12: Convergance

"Mason, I would like you to meet Miss Nadine Zhang and Miss Layla Hawthorne," Hollingsworth said, gesturing to the two girls seated at the metal table. "They are the other two members of 707." They nodded curtly to Mason as he sat down at the table next to Circire and Hecata.

"I'm sorry you didn't have more time, but unfortunately we do not have that luxury," Hollingsworth said. "I'm sure you deserve an explanation as to why you are here."

Mason listened as Hollingsworth went through the same procedure she had gone through with him days before, and listened as Nadine and Layla asked their own questions and received their own answers about Vexors and the prophecy and everything else that puzzled himself.

"So what does 'Gebirah' mean?" Nadine asked.

"'Gebirah' is the term given to the mother of the current Prime Witch," Reuben explained.

"When I named my daughter the Prime Witch, I became the Gebirah of the Liebeaux Family," Hecata said. "And when Circire names her children, she will become the Gebirah, and so on."

"Now, the question which remains is what are we to do regarding Celestia," Circire said. "I have planned an excursion to the Celeste, Celestia's fortress, in the Arctic Sea to claim the land up there and see what's happening. We do not know if her followers are up there or what they're doing or what they're planning on doing. And if you want to join us, you may."

"There is also the question of locating the Daemonic Spirits," Reuben said. "Sun, Moon, Earth, Ocean, Thunder, Rain, Snow, Desert, and Forest."

"Would it be best to locate Lightning as well?" Hecata offered.

"I do not know how Lightning is existing after Ariel took over her."

"I'm sorry, could you please explain this?" Nadine said. "Who took over who? What are you talking about, locating the Moon?"

"I'm sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself," Hollingsworth said. "Over a decade ago, a rebellion in the Vexor Stronghold was held against my predecessor, Cillian DuBois, and led by a Vexor named Ariel Contreras. Ariel was in love with the idea of power, and continually wanted more and more of it. But she became obsessed with it, and tried to take over one of the Daemonic Spirits. She tried to control Lightning itself."

"How?" Layla asked, with an impossibly bored look on her face.

"She performed the only action of which she could imagine," Hollingsworth said. "She voluntarily allowed herself to be struck by Lightning."

Nadine gasped. Both Layla and Mason were intrigued.

"Ariel succeeded. We do not know how, as such an action had never occurred before. But I believe the reason is because she exposed herself to Lightning of her own free will, crazed as she might have been. Ariel's soul was incarnated upon contact with the bolt of extreme heat, but the Lightning Spirit itself now lives and thrives within Ariel's body. Ariel is Lightning, and vice versa. She can control the spirit of nature independently now, but such an act is a violation against nature."

"So what does this have to do with us?" Layla asked.

"What we fear is that Celestia will join forces with Lightning, and their combined powers will be insurmountable. What we must do is locate all ten Spirits and convince them to fight against Celestia and whatever forces she may attract."

"But what we all must understand," Hecata said, "is that these Spirits are not human beings. They act for the good of all the world. They may or may not decide that our fight is worth anything. They are- they're like eternal judges, immortal to act upon the rights and wrongs of the imperfect human race, so we must present ourselves as worthy and honorable living entities so that they will see the evil we are fighting against."

"So, what you're saying is that- that the sun and the ocean and rain and snow- they're real things?"

"Spirits, yes," Hollingsworth said. "They are very real, and very powerful. They are innumerable ones of course, but the ten major Spirits are the only ones powerful enough to make a difference in this upcoming war."

Nadine and Layla were speechless. Mason, too, had a confused expression etched upon his face.

"Listen, I know this may all be difficult for you to believe, but you need to understand this, quickly, because we need your help, and we need to ensure your protection-"

A knock sounded on the solitary door to the barren room.

"Come in," Hecata said. To their surprise, Paralee Johansson entered, looking flustered.

"Paralee?" Hollingsworth asked incredulously. "What- how- where is 707?"

"She's taken them," Paralee whispered, leaning against the wall and sinking to the floor. "Celestia. They were dragged into the Pool, it was against their will- it was- oh-"

"What? What?" Hollingsworth exclaimed, standing up. "Damn it, Paralee, I thought you said you could protect them! I thought Corvula was safe!"

"So did I!" Hecata said.

"Yes, it was all your brilliant idea, wasn't it?"Hollingsworth said, pointing at the Gebirah. "Excellent work, Lady Gebirah!" she said sarcastically.

"Enough, now!" Paralee said. "This is the difference between the Spirits and the humans! We must not blame each other for our faults, but find a solution to them!"

"Yes, yes, we have to get to Corvula right away!" Hollingsworth said.

"No, Celestia won't return to Corvula, she will return where her dead body is present in the mortal world," Hecata said. "And anyway- how long will it be before she returns? We do not yet know the correlation of time between the mortal world and the Underworld!"

"That's true. Time may be on our side for this battle," Reuben said.

"Where is she buried?" Mason asked.

"In the Liebeaux Family cemetery at our Manor, here in Paris. Let's go!" Circire said.

"Wait! Will 707 go there, too? They're not dead!" Reuben said intelligently.

"Yet," Paralee said.

Hollingsworth glared at her.

"Yes, I believe they will return wherever Celestia returns," Hecata said.

"We must gather all of our forces! Alert the Myriad! Tell the Vexors and the Zarrius'! Instruct them to come to Paris immediately!" Circire said.

"Nadine- Layla- you must stay here-" Hollingsworth began.

"I'm fighting," Nadine said firmly.

"Me, too," Layla offered, standing up.

Exasperated, and knowing that she could not win an argument with them, Hollingsworth nodded. "I will retrieve head protection and the rest of the necessary armor for you," she said.

"Now, we may only have a few days, or we may have a year," Circire said. "But we must be prepared and be with constant vigilance and alertness at the graveyard. I want all Myriad soldiers stationed within a mile radius of the cemetery. I want Zarrius and Vexor backups, and notify the other Daemon reservations of what's happening."

"Yes, Madame Circire," Hecata said formally, and she and Paralee went to carry out her orders. The rest of the group of seven traveled out of the room and into the soon darkened and cold world beyond.